Barstow sheriffs search for missing cyclist

Local officials from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department are searching for a 41-year-old Canadian man reported missing while bicycling from Death Valley to Baker.

According to spokeswoman Cindy Beavers, the Barstow Sheriff's station has received calls of possible sightings of Toronto resident Gary Romanuk since Tuesday when a friend called authorities and reported him missing.

No leads have panned out yet, however, said spokeswoman Arden Wiltshire.

Romanuk is believed to be an experienced cyclist, according to officials, and was expected to arrive in Baker on Saturday. He left the Death Valley area near Furnace Creek early Friday morning. Romanuk likely traveled south on Highway 127, according to Wiltshire.

According to Beavers, Romanuk "did voice some interest in going to the Morongo (or) Joshua Tree area."

If Romanuk decided to go to Joshua Tree, he would have passed Baker, traveled through the Mojave National Preserve on Kelbaker Road, gone through Amboy and then headed to the Morongo Basin area, said Wiltshire.

"We're still trying to find out his direction of travel," she said.

Sheriff's officials have been searching for Romanuk by helicopter and search and rescue volunteers are involved.

Officials said Romanuk was riding a dark green road bike with black saddle bags attached to the side.

Romanuk has black hair, hazel eyes, weighs 183 pounds and is 6 feet 1inches tall, according to a report. He was last seen wearing an orange or moss green cycling shirt, black cycling shorts and shoes and carrying a black and purple daypack.

Anyone with information about the missing cyclist can contact either Sgt. Rob Ciolli or Det. Darin Lansdown of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Barstow Station at (760)256-4838.